Mother & Son Found Dead In Home

"OMAHA, NE — Early autopsy results show that a 54 year old Omaha woman died from blunt force trauma to the head and her 18 year old son from carbon monoxide poisoning. The bodies of Maureen Flanagan and her son Cooper were found last Wednesday inside their west Omaha home. A friend checking on their well being found mail stacked up outside the home and called law enforcement.

"Douglas County investigators say Maureen Flanagan’s body was found in the basement of the home and Cooper was inside a vehicle in the attached garage.

"Authorities have still not confirmed this is a murder/suicide however did state that the public is not in danger and they are not looking for suspects. The investigation continues."

Source: Nebraska Radio Network...

"A Tragic Act Of Domestic Violence"

"STOWE, VT — Authorities have identified the two people killed in an apparent murder-suicide that police are calling `a tragic act of domestic violence.`

"According to a press release issued by the Stowe Police Department, police believe 64-year-old Wayne Washburn murdered his 59-year-old wife, Katherine Washburn, and then committed suicide.

"Police found the bodies of Wayne and Katherine Washburn at their home at 262 Cady Hill Road in Stowe at 4:38 p.m. Wednesday. On Thursday morning, police said their investigation indicated the incident was a murder/suicide. They identified the victims and provided more details late Thursday afternoon.

"Police said Katherine Washburn had suffered `severe injuries to her head,` although her exact cause of death had not yet been determined.

"Police said evidence suggests Wayne Washburn may have `overdosed on prescription medication in conjunction with deliberate carbon monoxide poisoning.`

"The department is awaiting further information from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner."

From stowetoday.com...

Carbon Monoxide Was Mom's Weapon Of Choice

"JENKS, OK — Jenks police are conducting an investigation of a possible murder/suicide that left a woman and a child dead Wednesday night.

"Police say two people—a mother and a 3-year-old child—were found dead at the scene in the 3900 block of West 108th Street South in Jenks Wednesday.

"Jenks Police Chief Cameron Arthur says the father went to get his children from school but they were not there. He came to the house to find the van running in the garage.

"The woman, Jamie Nicole Helms, and her 3-year-old daughter were found dead. Both died of carbon monoxide poisoning.

"A 5-year-old boy was in the corner of the garage. The father was able to revive him and the son was transported to St. Francis Hospital.

"The father says he and the mother were going through a custody battle and were separated.

"According to Creek County court documents, Helms had been charged with one count of domestic assault and battery in the presence of a minor in November 2013 while living in Sapulpa.

"The court date for that offense was set for May.

"Police found a letter in the van addressed to friends and neighbors. Jenks police believe the mother wrote the letter but they are in the process of verifying it.

"Thursday, the 5-year-old was doing well and was expected to be released from the hospital, according to Melissa Brown with Jenks Police Department."

From kjrh.com...

Distraught Dad Kills Daughter, Dog

"DAVE, FL — Police identified the man who they said killed his 6-year-old daughter and himself outside of his ex-wife's home on Thursday morning.

"Children walking to school found Paul Andrade, his daughter, and a dog inside a van in the 7300 block of NW 37th Street in Davie about 7 a.m.

"`We heard a commotion outside. We thought it was more like arguing,` said one neighbor. `I came out and looked and saw the gentleman slumped over in the back seat of the van. It was wide open. You could see him just lying there.`

"Andrade, 30, attached a hose from the exhaust pipe to the inside of the car, killing himself, his daughter, and the dog by carbon monoxide poisoning, according to police.

"`They must've fallen asleep,` said Davie Police Capt. Dale Engle. `They observed a female holding a child, rocking back and forth, obviously distraught.`

"Police believe Andrade was upset over the end of his relationship with the girl's mother, who had recently remarried. He had regular visitation with his daughter, said police.

"`The man was distraught. His ex-wife had recently remarried in the last month or so, and felt that this was his way of getting back at her,` said Engle."

From local10.com...

Five Found Dead In Ohio Garage

"TOLEDO, OH — A grandmother, along with her grown son, has committed suicide and killed her three young grandchildren in Ohio by suffocating them with carbon monoxide.

"Sandy Ford, 54, was about to lose custody of her three grandchildren, Paige Hayes, 10, Logan Hayes, 6, and Madalyn Hayes, 5.

"Authorities believe she and her son Andy Ford, 32, who was the children's uncle, may have killed them at their home on 5142 Harvest Lane in Toledo, Ohio, to prevent Sandy's daughter from regaining custody.

"Firefighters found a truck with the engine running and hoses leading from the exhaust into a Honda Civic in the family's garage on Monday night.

"The three children, as well as Sandy and Andy Ford and the family's two dogs and a cat were all found dead inside the car."

Source: Mail Online...

Deaths Of Dad & Twins Ruled Murder/Suicide

"MECHANICSVILLE, VA — Hanover County authorities have officially ruled the deaths of a Mechanicsville man and his twin three-year-old daughters a murder-suicide.

"Authorities said in a release Monday afternoon that Robert King, 40, and his twin daughters, Caroline and Madison King, all had lacerations to their neck as well as carbon monoxide poisoning.

"The medical examiner said all three died from either one or a combination of those factors.

"`I would like to offer my sincerest condolences to the families of the deceased as they mourn the loss of their loved ones`, said Hanover Sheriff Col. David R. Hines. `No words can fully describe the pain they must be experiencing during this incredibly difficult time.`

"Saturday, officers responded to a home in the 7900 block of Wynbrook Lane, just off of Mechanicsville Turnpike and not far from Interstate 295, at about 3:30 p.m. Inside, officers discovered the bodies of both three year olds.

"Robert King lived at the Wynbrook Lane home. The twin girls resided with their mother, Kristina Hooper, in the 5000 block of Pole Green Road."

From WRIC.com...

Teenager Finds Parents Dead

"SUFFOLK, VA — A 16-year-old boy came home and found his parents dead in their Suffolk home last night. After autopsies were performed today, police determined that Kathryn Laine died of stab wounds inflicted by her husband, Steven Laine, who committed suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning.

"Police say the teen called them at around 3:30 p.m. to tell them his mother needed help. When police arrived, they found his mother, Kathryn Laine 47, and later found his father, Steven Laine, 47, in the garage."

From WTKR.com...

UPDATE:

12/16/2011 — "They were just a close family..."

Coroner: Carbon Monoxide Deaths Are Murder/Suicide

"LEVITTOWN, PA — A 92-year-old Bucks County man caring for his wife, who suffered from advanced Alzheimer's disease, took both their lives Sunday in a murder-suicide, the county coroner said Monday.

"Charles Hoez and Jeanne Hoez, 90, were found dead Monday morning in their Middletown Township home by their son, said Coroner Joseph Campbell. The cause of death was carbon monoxide poisoning, Campbell said.

"A witness had seen the husband drive his minivan around the side of their house on Sunday afternoon, Campbell said. A hose connected the minivan's exhaust pipe to the window of the bedroom where the couple were found dead."

From philly.com...